PITTSBURGH - The American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter wants you to be safe and ready in the case of a fire. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released the nationwide “Install. Inspect. Protect.” campaign recently, which emphasizes using smoke alarms to help save lives. In recognition of this inspiring program, the local Red Cross is urging residents to install and maintain smoke alarms in their homes.

Home fires are America's biggest disaster threat. Locally, the Southwestern Pennsylvania chapter responds to a fire emergency an average of once every 29 hours.  The American Red Cross offers the following tips to make sure your family is protected in the event of a fire:

• Install a smoke alarm outside and inside of each sleeping area and on each additional level of your home.

• Use the test button to check each smoke alarm once a month. Replace all batteries once a year or when necessary.

• Vacuum away cobwebs and dust from your smoke alarms monthly.

• Replace your smoke alarms every ten years.

• Consider having one or more working fire extinguishers in your home. Get training from the fire department on how to use them.

• Consider installing an automatic fire sprinkler system in your home.

Please make your Promise to Prepare in recognition of the Red Cross and FEMA’s efforts to prevent fire disasters.